Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS– A Jackson, MS man pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Atrell Galloway, Jr., 21, pleaded guilty after being indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a machinegun. On June 9, 2024, Officers with the Capitol Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on Lynch Street in Jackson after observing a traffic violation. After approaching the vehicle and seeing narcotics in plain view, a probable cause search of the vehicle was performed. During the search, Officers discovered a Glock Model 45 handgun with an attached machinegun conversion device or “switch.” Capitol Police seized the firearm and then referred the matter to the ATF for further investigation. After obtaining a search warrant, the ATF discovered photographs of the weapon on Galloway’s cell phone with the serial number displayed. Text messages were also discovered on the Defendant’s phone concerning the compatibility of “switches” with certain Glock handguns. During the change of plea hearing, Galloway admitted to purchasing ten machinegun conversion devices online and installing the conversion device on the recovered handgun himself.
Galloway is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2025. Galloway faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Capitol Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man, Marcus Guice, was sentenced on May 30, 2025 to 175 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 175 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, both sentences and terms of supervised release to run concurrently. Since his criminal conduct was in violation of his federal supervised release, Guice was also sentenced to an additional 46 months in federal prison to run consecutive to the 175-month prison term.
According to court documents, in and around December 2019 and continuing through January 2020, communications between Guice and his coconspirators were intercepted wherein they negotiated and conducted the sale of marijuana, cocaine, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), and methamphetamine in the Jackson, Mississippi area. Guice and his coconspirators are responsible for over 69,000 kilograms of converted drug weight being sold in the Jackson, Mississippi area in a two-month period.
In addition to the prison sentence, Guice was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Police Department and Ridgeland Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Texas man pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Adrian Hill, 44, of Dallas, Texas unlawfully acquired and used more than $210,600 in SNAP benefits from approximately August 2022 through November 2023. Hill admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for himself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger.
Hill pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Hattiesburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Velton Taylor Williams, Jr., 31, of Hattiesburg unlawfully acquired and used SNAP benefits in November 2023. Williams admitted to selling the benefits to others and using them for himself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Williams also admitted to using TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash benefits intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18.
Williams pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with Theft of Vehicle from Local DealershipRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Texas man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with the fraudulent purchase of a 2023 Ford Shelby F-150 valued at $130,850 from a local automobile dealership.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, Mario Martinez Smiley, 56, of Fort Worth, Texas, fraudulently obtained an expensive truck from a Jackson dealership by representing himself to be another individual and using someone else’s credit card number to make a $5,000 down payment on the truck. Smiley was recruited by an individual in Texas to pick up vehicles in exchange for $1,000 each. Smiley induced a salesperson from the dealership to meet him in Ruston, Louisiana, where he took possession of the truck after posing for a photograph with it.
Smiley was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025. Smiley pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty Extorting State Probationers and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – An Ocean Springs, Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to extortion by official right and witness tampering.
According to court documents, Steven Wood, 64, used his position as a Mississippi Probation and Parole officer to extort drugs, sexual photos, and sexual services from multiples state probationers. The investigation was initiated when a probationer reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) that Wood was having her bring him methamphetamine. Subsequent investigation including additional witness interviews, and the forensic examination of Wood’s phone revealed that he solicited methamphetamine, sexual photos, and videos from multiple probationers. Wood took official action on those probationer’s behalf by not reporting their use, possession, or transfer of illegal drugs, not requiring them to report for their probation visits, not requiring some of them to pay their probation fees and writing at least one letter to be submitted by a probationer in a child custody dispute.
During the course of the investigation, Wood contacted multiple probationers, and he told one probationer to lie about her relationship with Wood and to hide evidence.
Wood pleaded guilty to one count of extortion by official right in violation of the Hobbs Act and one count of witness tampering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2025. He faces not more than 20 years of imprisonment for both the Hobbs Act and Witness Tampering offenses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge, Rob Eikhoff, made the announcement.
The FBI, with assistance of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
Meridan Man Sentenced to over 41 Years in Prison for Role in Multi-State Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS - A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced to 500 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matt Reidell and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Phillip Pope.
According to court documents, from June 2016 through May of 2018, Samuel Ykem Boler, 33, conspired with others to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from California and Tennessee into central Mississippi. This case is the result of an extensive investigation dubbed “Operation Highlife,” which targeted illegal methamphetamine distribute in central Mississippi.
This case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Erin Chalk.
Florida Financial Advisor Sentenced for Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
A Florida financial advisor was sentenced today to eight years in prison for orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and to steal client funds.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes. In reality, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and his co-conspirators, who then sent the money, minus a fee, to a different bank account that the client controlled. Tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.
In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million. Mellinger and a co-conspirator, who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from the scheme.
In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were under investigation and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and the relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million from some of the clients, a portion of which Mellinger used to buy a home in Delray Beach.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett for the Southern District of Mississippi ordered Mellinger to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $37 million in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations and Director of DCIS Kelly P. Mayo made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi, man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Demetriz Romelo Hopson, 25, was found by law enforcement officers in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun that had been equipped with a machinegun conversion device or “switch” while Hopson was attending a football game on the campus of Meridian High School. Hopson pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on January 8, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Meridian Schools Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 35 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Scotty James Conley, 40, of was found by the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office to be in possession of a firearm after responding to a complaint of a residential disturbance. Conley has a prior felony conviction from 2008 for sexual battery of a minor under 14 years of age. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Conley was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 10, 2023. He pled guilty on January 27, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI and Forrest County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Texas Man Convicted for Unauthorized Identity Documents with Illegal IntentRead the Press Release
GULFPORT, MS – A Houston, Texas, man pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025, to Unauthorized Possession of Five or More Identity Documents or Authentication Features with Intent to Use Unlawfully. According to court documents, Kenny Hoang Nguyen, age 31, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to this felony offense in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
Nguyen is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Federal law also provides for Nguyen to be held responsible for restitution to victims. A federal judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On May 7, 2024, an agent with the Jackson County, South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (MET) observed a vehicle driving carelessly and initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 10 eastbound. The vehicle was being driven by Kenny Hoang Nguyen. The agent’s narcotics K9 alerted on the vehicle and a search revealed a small amount of suspected methamphetamine.
Additionally, agents found seven temporary Texas driver’s licenses bearing Nguyen’s face but with names and personal information of other people. Further, agents found various documents; debit cards, papers with other personal identity information, and U.S. Mail belonging to other persons. Some items were located in an object that appeared to be book entitled “Holy Bible” but actually was a container. Receipts and deposit slips also were found, with two deposit slips in the name of a victim whose identity was used to create a false ID with Nguyen’s photo. 27 victims were identified whose data (such as account numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, and social security numbers) was unlawfully possessed by Nguyen.
The case was referred to a U.S. Postal Inspector for further investigation. Multiple victims were interviewed whose identity had been unlawfully possessed by Nguyen in Jackson County. Victims described unlawful activity involving their mail and bank accounts that were directly consistent and matched documents such as bank records possessed by Nguyen when he was arrested in MS.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Lemon joined Shameka Jackson, Acting Inspector-in-Charge of the Postal Inspection Service (Houston Division), and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, in making the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Production and Distribution of Images of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Long Beach, Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to three counts of producing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and one count of distributing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, in February 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) in Gulfport learned that Jason Leonard Rhodes, a 47-year-old male, had sexual contact with three minor boys. With that information, the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, conducted a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on February 8, 2023.
During the search warrant, the FBI found various electronic devices belonging to Rhodes. A forensic examiner with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division conducted a forensic analysis on those devices and found videos of Rhodes engaged in sexually explicit conduct with minors. The forensic examiner also found chats between Rhodes and others in which Rhodes sent some of those videos to other people as well as videos of other children being sexually abused.
During the search warrant, Rhodes gave a confession to law enforcement, admitting to videoing himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the minors and to sending out pictures and videos of children being sexually abused.
Rhodes is scheduled to be sentenced August 26, 2025, and faces up to thirty years in prison for each count of producing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and up to twenty years on the count of distributing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, and the Long Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Smith, Glenda Haynes, and Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
GULFPORT, MS – A Honduran man pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025, to Unlawful Reentry into the United States by a Deported or Removed Alien. According to court documents, Denis Ramon Flores Ortez, age 40, of Honduras pleaded guilty to this federal felony offense in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
Flores Ortez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Federal law also provides for Flores Ortez to face Homeland Security removal proceedings after serving any sentence of imprisonment.
On February 3, 2025, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered Flores Ortez, at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center in Gulfport. As a result of official records checks, Flores Ortez was found to be an illegal alien from Honduras who had been lawfully removed from the United States.
Flores Ortez illegally entered the U.S. in 2004, and was afforded the privilege of a voluntary departure in lieu of removal. In 2010, Flores Ortez illegally reentered the U.S. and was apprehended by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his arrest in Jackson County. A removal order was issued against him, and he was physically removed from the U.S. Thereafter, he unlawfully reentered the U.S. after removal and was arrested in Gulfport, MS, in 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Houston, Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Houston, Texas man pleaded guilty today to traveling from Houston, Texas to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, Jeffrey Daster Torres, 38, traveled from Houston, Texas to Gulfport, Mississippi, with Roberto Renteria-Guerrero, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Columbia, South America, to distribute almost 200 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Unfortunately for Torres and Guerrero, law enforcement officers were made aware of their plans, and stopped the vehicle in which they were traveling. After the traffic stop, officers found the fentanyl, photos of which are below.
Officers also discovered that Torres was traveling with a fake driver’s license. Subsequent analysis of Torres’ and Guerrero’s phones confirmed that they were involved in drug trafficking, and had made at least one prior trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In fact, in electronic messages Torres and Guerrero shared at least one photos of a substance that appeared consistent with the fentanyl seized.
Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment. Guerrero previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and similarly faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment. Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
The DEA, with assistance from the Biloxi Police Department and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Hunter McCreight are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Ethiopian Man Sentenced to Armed Robbery of a Gulfport SupermarketRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – An Ethiopian national was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for armed robbery of a local supermarket in Gulfport.
According to court documents, Milki Ibrahim walked into the supermarket on February 23, 2024, pulled out a black handgun and said, “Give me the money or I will shoot y’all right now.” The employee behind the cash register complied and gave Ibrahim $1200. Ibrahim threatened to come back and kill the people in the store if they went to the police.
Employees of the store were able to positively identify Ibrahim as the armed robber. A subsequent review of Ibrahim’s cellphone showed he took pictures of himself wearing the same clothes that were worn during the robbery just one day prior. Those same clothes were found in the defendant’s residence along with a firearm that matched the description to the one used in the robbery.
In December 2024, Ibrahim pled guilty to the charge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Gulfport Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.
For non- HSTF cases pursuant to Op. TBA
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Carthage Man Pleads Guilty to BurglaryRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On April 17, 2025, a Leake County man pleaded guilty to burglarizing the Red Water Day Care located in the Red Water Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
According to court documents, in May of 2024, John Edward Tubby, Jr., 34, burglarized the day care, taking multiple electronic devices. Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.
Tubby is scheduled to be sentenced in July and faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian K. Burns and Kevin J. Payne prosecuted the case.
Two Romanian Men Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty to Installing Skimmers throughout Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, 28, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, 29, were both sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for possession of device-making equipment, also known as skimmers. Their codefendant, Bogdan Gabriel Radu, 22, pleaded guilty today to possession of device-making equipment. All three defendants are Romanian nationals who entered the United States illegally.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Gheorghe, Neacsu, and Radu could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout the Southern District of Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. The skimmers were adhered using double-sided tape and were equipped with electronics that captured or recorded bank card magstripe track data and PIN numbers, stored the skimmed card data, were Bluetooth capable for remote connectivity, and were powered by lithium batteries. Gheorghe and Neacsu would install the skimmers while making a small purchase using a gift card. Radu was primarily responsible for retrieving the stolen data from the skimmers.
Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling over $85,000, for which the defendants will be required to pay restitution. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. These stolen SNAP benefits were used in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can be traced back to the skimming devices in Mississippi.
A criminal complaint was filed against Gheorghe and Neacsu on August 2, 2024. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against them on August 13, 2024. Thereafter, a superseding indictment was filed on November 6, 2024, adding Radu as a codefendant. Radu is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As the defendants entered the United States illegally, they may be subject to deportation upon their release from prison.
“This scheme stretched across the United States and was clearly targeting families that rely on financial assistance to put food on the table,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their partnership throughout this investigation. Together, we were able to stop international criminals from defrauding Mississippi taxpayers and protect these benefits for those who need them the most.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:
- Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible.
- Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Devontae Stamps, 31, of was found by Jackson Police Department officers to be in possession of a firearm after responding to a complaint by a property owners that Stamps would not leave his property. Stamps has prior felony convictions. In 2012 he was convicted of burglary. He was 18 at the time. In 2013 he was convicted of armed robbery. He was 19 at the time. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Stamps was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 9, 2024. He pled guilty on January 8, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI and Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man and woman pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 2022 to August 2023, Keamber McCoy, 27, and Afrika Roshawn Seals, 42, conspired to distribute cocaine. The investigation involved five controlled purchases of cocaine. Three of those controlled purchases were arranged and negotiated by Seals and McCoy delivered cocaine. In the other two controlled purchases, Seals arranged, negotiated, and delivered cocaine. Additionally, in September 2023, agents searched Seals’ residence and found and seized three kilograms of cocaine and $84,411 in cash.
McCoy pled guilty on April 7, 2025. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Seals pled guilty on April 14, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025, and faces a minimum and maximum penalty of 5 to 40 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, Director Steven Maxwell of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway, Adam Stuart, and Amber Jones are prosecuting the case.
Fifth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Car Dealership Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identities of others to purchase expensive vehicles in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2023, Joshanique Elouise Bailey, 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, and her coconspirators obtained the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, created false identity documents in the names of those individuals, and then posed as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. Bailey and her coconspirators submitted credit applications and purchased or attempted to purchase vehicles from dealerships in the Jackson metro area. The defendants traveled from Louisiana to Mississippi in a vehicle rented by one of the coconspirators.
Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Bailey is the fifth and final coconspirator to plead guilty as part of this scheme. All five of the defendants are awaiting sentencing. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of a Means of Identification of Another Person in Connection with Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
GULFPORT – A Houston, Texas, man was sentenced today to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay $51,294 in restitution for the federal felony offense of Knowingly Possessing Identification of Another Person in Connection with Wire Fraud. According to court documents, Jay Brisco, age 26, was sentenced in Gulfport. Bisco pleaded guilty to the felony offense on October 22, 2024.
In March 2020, an investigation by Walmart Global Investigations was initiated when a victim reported that someone fraudulently opened a cell phone account in his name, without his consent. The initial findings found that the account was opened at a Walmart store in Gulfport. In March 2020, Walmart sold cellular phone contracts for a variety of phone carriers including AT&T and Verizon. Walmart used the services of a third-party company, named “The Revenue Optimization Company” (referred to as TROC), to assist with phone and phone contract sales. TROC staffed Walmart stores with TROC employees who assisted with phone purchases and applications for phone contracts, and who were compensated, in part, by commissions.
Brisco was a TROC employee at Walmart Store Number #969 in Gulfport, and he received identification information of customers which he used to complete and process cellular phone contract applications. Brisco would complete an application on behalf of a legitimate customer and then was complicit with a fraudulent application using a different name, but with the real customer’s identity information being used in the second contract. Brisco submitted the second phone application, knowing it was fraudulent. Walmart Global Investigations reviewed surveillance video and phone contract records which revealed that Brisco knowingly processed fraudulent phone applications containing the personal identity information of victims.
Walmart security personnel notified law enforcement and the case was investigated by the Gulfport Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service which has jurisdiction over credit card other financial fraud. Brisco confessed to his part in a criminal conspiracy involving others who also were prosecuted in other jurisdictions in Texas and the Southeastern United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the Gulfport Police Department and Walmart Global Investigations. Lemon and Kyle Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge for the United States Secret Service in Jackson, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.
Joint Law Enforcement Operation leads to the Indictment of Nine Mississippi Men for Drug and Firearm TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A federal grand jury in Gulfport, Mississippi returned indictments charging nine men—Alvonta Demarcus McCray, Melvin McCray, Cameron Fairley, Christopher Chase Brown, Cleon Johnson, Roderick Victor Minter, Tracy Antoine McCall, Nathaniel Jackson, and Jeremy Young—for their involvement in narcotics and firearm trafficking.
These indictments are the result of a joint investigation among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (“MBN”); U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Stone County Sheriff’s Department. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted more than 30 operations that resulted in the seizure of 3.98 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 4,000 fentanyl pills, 18 grams of powder fentanyl, and over 20 firearms.
According to the indictments, Alvonta Demarcus McCray was charged in a six-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute-methamphetamine and fentanyl, and five counts of possession with intent to distribute; he is facing up to life in prison. Melvin McCray was charged in a five-count indictment charging him with trafficking firearms, and four counts of possession of a firearm by convicted felon; he is facing up 15 years in prison. Cameron Fairley and Christopher Chase Brown were charged in a joint indictment charging them with trafficking firearms. Fairley is also charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Fairley is facing up to life in prison and Brown is facing up to 15 years in prison. Nathaniel Jackson is charged in a six-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, he is facing up to 20 years in prison. Cleon Johnson is charged with possession of a short-barreled shotgun and is facing up to 10 years in prison. Roderick Victor Minter, and Tracy Antoine McCall are charged in a joint indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Minter and McCall are facing up to life in prison. Jeremy Young is charged in a two-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and is facing up to 20 years in prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of ATF; Special Agent in Charge Eric P. DeLaune of HSI, Sean Tindell, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; and Todd Stewart, Sheriff of the Stone County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gulfport Man Sentenced for Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport man was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for his role in the commission of two armed robberies.
According to court documents, Ladarius Callahan, 26, participated in the commission of an armed robbery of a Dollar General store in Long Beach, Mississippi, on May 8, 2022, and a Texaco in Long Beach, Mississippi on November 6, 2022.
Callahan and his co-defendants, Christopher Collins and Gabriel Johnson, were originally charged by Indictment on January 23, 2024. Callahan pleaded guilty to two counts of the Indictment on November 21, 2024. Collins previously pleaded guilty to one count of the Indictment related to the Texaco robbery and was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Johnson has also pleaded guilty to a single count of the Indictment and is awaiting sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Long Beach and Gulfport Police Departments, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Trio Sentenced for Roles in Reservation MurderRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – Three tribal members were sentenced for their respective roles in a murder, which occurred in September of 2023, in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation.
According to court documents, Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, Sr., 48, and Montero Ray Willis, 22, were both sentenced to prison for Murder in the Second Degree. Shaffer was sentenced to 262 months, and Montero was sentenced 151 months. Deyonkia Alice Willis, 32, was sentenced to 60 months for the crime of Accessory After the Fact. All three were previously indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2023 and previously plead guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood’s Tribal Initiative.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhood’s Tribal Initiative refers to the inclusion of tribal law enforcement officials and community leaders within the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a national initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice that aims to identify and address the most pressing violent crime issues in a community by bringing together federal, state, local, tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and community partners to develop comprehensive solutions; essentially, it signifies the program's efforts to actively involve tribal entities in combating crime within their jurisdictions.
Vicksburg Man Convicted of Falsifying Firearms Documents, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – A federal jury convicted Zaid Khalaf, 42, of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a former Federal Firearms Licensee (“FFL”) on Thursday, March 27, 2025, for two counts of falsifying records, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of obstruction of justice. The convictions followed a two-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khalaf was a Federal Firearms Licensee at a gun shop in Vicksburg, Mississippi since 2022. On April 24, 2024, an ATF firearms compliance inspection found that Khalaf falsified multiple firearms transaction records. Khalaf used the identities including social security numbers of two of his previous customers to forge firearm transaction records in their names. Khalaf presented the forged documents to the ATF investigator during the inspection. It is against federal law to falsify ATF records and to use the identities and private information of citizens without their consent. Khalaf is no longer a Federal Firearms Licensee.
Khalaf is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22 and faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft consecutive with any other term of imprisonment imposed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 74 months for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, MS man was sentenced today to 74 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Lester Landrum, 42, while under state correctional supervision as a probationer was found in possession of a firearm during an operation led by the East Mississippi Drug Task Force in Meridian. Landrum pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on December 16, 2024. In delivering the sentence, the Court ordered that the 74-month sentence for the instant offense run consecutive to the unfinished term of his prior state sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
The ATF and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Car Dealership Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identities of others to purchase expensive vehicles in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2023, Anna Waldei, 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana, and her coconspirators obtained the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, created false identity documents in the names of those individuals, and then posed as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. Waldei and her coconspirators submitted credit applications and purchased or attempted to purchase vehicles from dealerships in the Jackson metro area. The defendants traveled from Louisiana to Mississippi in a vehicle rented by Waldei.
Waldei is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Four Individuals and One Company Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging Schemes and Related Crimes Plaguing Public Schools in Mississippi and LouisianaRead the Press Release
Four individuals and one company pleaded guilty in three separate U.S. District Courts for their roles in various bid rigging and wire fraud conspiracies which targeted the sale of sports equipment to public schools throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. The schemes affected sales to hundreds of public schools in both states.
The individuals and company pleaded guilty between February and March of 2025. Yesterday, Patrick Joseph Stewart of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to one count of bid rigging and one count of wire fraud affecting sales to at least 69 public schools in the Eastern District of Louisiana. In the Southern District of Mississippi, Maurice Daniel Bowering Jr., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to five counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 50 public schools on March 6; and Robert Tucker Craig of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to three counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 38 public schools and one count of obstruction for the deletion of related evidence on Feb. 19. Lastly, Robert Douglas Heflin of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 31 public schools on March 4; and Mississippi company Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 60 public schools on Feb. 20, in the Northern District of Mississippi.
“School sports are integral to the development and upbringing of American children. From these opportunities, they learn the benefits of teamwork and open competition. Bid rigging, on the other hand, is the antithesis of American meritocracy. It is also patently unlawful,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The defendants here selfishly targeted school sports programs, depriving students of an opportunity to thrive. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force has zero tolerance for bid collusion schemes, particularly when they target children.”
“The defendants rigged bids for school sports equipment which resulted in an unfair playing field,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is committed to working with our law enforcement and Antitrust Division partners to protect school athletics and taxpayer dollars.”
“Financial fraud perpetrated against the U.S. government is a serious crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Particularly egregious, is fraud that undercuts government procurement processes and erodes public trust in the fair-bidding practice. These guilty pleas send a clear and decisive message that our office, along with our federal partners, will continue to protect the taxpayer by vigorously investigating and prosecuting all such corruption cases.”
“Bid rigging and the collusion that makes it possible drive up prices for taxpayers and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “We will continue our commitment to work with the FBI and to root out corruption.”
“This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding public schools from criminal schemes that defraud the American people and exploit taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Stewart, Bowering, Craig, Heflin, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. were in positions to help shape children's learning, the benefits of physical fitness in living prosperous lives. Instead, these co-conspirators chose to abuse the trust given to them by stealing future opportunities from students in fraudulently filling their pockets with the hard-earned tax dollars schools are entrusted to invest in the development of America's future leaders. The FBI will continue to work with our federal partners to relentlessly pursue and bring justice to individuals and companies who use fraudulent schemes to defraud our communities.”
According to court documents, Tucker, Bowering, Heflin, Stewart, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. entered into conspiracies in which they agreed to submit complementary bids to public schools to obtain procurements for sports equipment and related services. The longest of the charged conspiracies lasted more than a decade. Two other co-conspirators, Charles Ferrell Trimm and Bradley D. Willcutt, previously pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Mississippi in May 2024 and September 2024, respectively.
The maximum penalty for the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison, a criminal fine, and Court-ordered restitution. The maximum penalty for obstruction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) is 20 years in prison and a criminal fine of no more than $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Today’s guilty pleas result from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the school sports equipment industry being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Chief Laura Butte; Trial Attorneys Jill Rogowski, Marc Hedrich, and Hannah Muller; and Senior Litigation Counsel Paul Torzilli are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint. The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Honduran Man Sentenced for Knowing Possession Without Authority of Identification of Another Person in Connection with Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
GULFPORT, MS – A Honduran national sentenced to “49 months” imprisonment for the federal felony offense of Knowing Possession Without Authority of a Means of Identification of Another Person in Connection with Violation of Federal Law. According to court documents, Wilmer Alexander Montufar, age 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel in Gulfport. Additionally, Montufar, who also is known by the name of Wilmer Montuvar-Martinez, was sentenced to three years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence.
Federal law provides for Montufar to face U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removal proceedings. Montufar previously had been lawfully removed from the United States to his home nation of Honduras. After removal from the U.S., his supervised release period will be non-reporting while he remains outside of the United States. However, if he unlawfully returns to the U.S., Montufar could face separate, consecutive penalties in addition to further prosecution. He was convicted after pleading guilty on October 17, 2024.
On May 6, 2024, a Mississippi law enforcement officer observed a vehicle driving northbound on Interstate 59. The Officer observed the vehicle traveling in the left lane and impeding traffic. The Officer conducted a traffic stop on I-59 eastbound at about Mile Marker 31 in Pearl River County. The Officer observed that there were two people inside. The driver was identified by his Honduran passport as Wilmer Alexander Montufar, a citizen of Honduras, and the defendant in this case. The front seat passenger was identified as a 16-year-old female juvenile Honduran citizen. Both Montufar and the juvenile indicated that they could not speak English.
A Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to the traffic stop location to provide translation. The juvenile initially said she was a friend of Montufar but did not know where they were going in Mississippi. Montufar was arrested and taken into custody for violations of Mississippi state law for driving without a driver’s license and traveling in the left lane. Montufar and the juvenile were transported to the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office and, later, the juvenile was turned over to Mississippi Child Protective Services. Pearl River County officials interviewed Montufar which was video recorded. Montufar admitted to bringing the juvenile from Honduras into the U.S. and said he and the juvenile female were in a relationship, and that he was aware that she was sixteen years old. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrived at the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, and transported Montufar to the U.S. Border Patrol Station.
At the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport, databases confirmed Montufar had been ordered removed from the U.S. on four occasions. Montufar was removed from the U.S. to Honduras, in or about 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2018. Databases also revealed Montufar had not received permission to apply for readmission to the US from either the Attorney General or the DHS Secretary. Montufar was read his Miranda rights in Spanish and waived his rights verbally and by signing a waiver form in Spanish. He agreed to speak with law enforcement officials in a video-recorded interview, and he admitted to unlawfully entering McAllen, Texas, from Reynosa, Mexico, in about 2022.
Montufar also consented verbally and in writing to allowing HSI agents to forensically examine his cellular phone. On-site previews of data extracted from the device revealed about four images of what purported to be a Texas (TX) identification (ID) card bearing Montufar’s image and the name: J.L.T. (represented by initials) about five images of what purported to be Social Security Administration (SSA) cards – four with the name: J.L.T. and one with the name J.L.C., and two images of Montufar’s Honduran ID card bearing Montufar’s image and his official name.
When asked about the purported Texas identification card and Social Security cards, Montufar said he purchased the documents for about $800.00 and had been using them for employment purposes. He acknowledged that the documents were false and that he knew they were not issued by a government agency and that he had been using them for his own employment.
A lawful Social Security Card shows that the holder may lawfully work in the U.S. Illegal aliens sometimes pay higher amounts (such as $800) for unlawful identification documents with identity information of a real person so documents appear real when employers report to federal and state officials for Social Security, income tax withholding and other purposes.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol, as well as the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Child Protective Services and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican Woman Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
GULFPORT, MS – A Mexican national was sentenced today to “time served” (effectively 52 days) imprisonment for the federal felony offense of Unlawful Reentry Into the United States by a Deported or Removed Alien. According to court documents, Juana Arres-Chapol, age 47, was sentenced in federal court in Gulfport. Additionally, Arres-Chapol was sentenced to one year of supervised release following completion of her prison sentence.
Further, federal law provides for Arres-Chapol to face U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removal proceedings. After removal again from the U.S., her supervised release period will be non-reporting while she remains outside of the United States. However, if she unlawfully returns to the U.S., Arres-Chapol could face separate, consecutive penalties in addition to further prosecution. She was convicted after pleading guilty on February 25, 2025.
On or about January 27, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting enforcement operations in Harrison County, in the Southern Division of the Southern District of MS. Agents conducted a vehicle stop and all three vehicle occupants were determined to be illegally present in the US and were arrested and processed for removal. Arres-Chapol’s fingerprints were scanned into DHS databases resulting in a computer match to her prior immigration records including photographs.
Records revealed that Arres-Chapol had been arrested in or near Laredo, Texas, on or about April 18, 2014. She was processed for an Expedited Removal and was lawfully removed from the US. Immigration records also revealed that Arres-Chapol had not received permission to reenter the U.S. from either the Attorney General or from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Jackson Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 1 year and 1 day in prison and a $1,000 partial fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Jessie Dewayne Terry, 42, was found in possession of a firearm at a night club on February 23, 2024. He had previously been convicted of multiple offenses including armed robbery and house burglary.
A 2-year term of supervised release will follow his term of imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control, Capitol Police, Jackson Police, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and other state law enforcement partners investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Pascagoula Man Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula man was sentenced today to 260 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, Terry Lynn McNeal, Jr., 35, sold fentanyl on three occasions between February and April 2024. After those sales, a search warrant was executed at McNeal’s residence where agents discovered over a 100 grams of fentanyl, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Man Indicted for Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Gulfport, MS, returned a six-count superseding indictment today charging Stefan Day, also known as Stefan Pete Day Rowold, with federal civil rights and arson violations for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship.
According to the superseding indictment, on July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Day set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Counts one and four of the superseding indictment charge Day with arson for setting fire to the church. Counts two and five of the superseding indictment charge Day with intentionally damaging, defacing, and destroying religious real property because of the religious character of the property. Counts three and six of the superseding indictment charge Day with using fire to commit a federal felony offense.
If convicted, Day faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the arson charges, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the civil rights charges, and a minimum penalty of ten years in prison for the use of fire to commit a federal felony offense.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial
Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mississippi Man Indicted for Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Gulfport, Mississippi, returned a six-count superseding indictment today charging Stefan Day, also known as Stefan Pete Day Rowold, with federal civil rights and arson violations for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship.
According to the superseding indictment, on July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Day set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Counts one and four of the superseding indictment charge Day with arson for setting fire to the church. Counts two and five of the superseding indictment charge Day with intentionally damaging, defacing, and destroying religious real property because of the religious character of the property. Counts three and six of the superseding indictment charge Day with using fire to commit a federal felony offense.
If convicted, Day faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the arson charges, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the civil rights charges, and a minimum penalty of ten years in prison for the use of fire to commit a federal felony offense.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gulfport Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Elijah Antonio Porter, 23, was found in possession of an illegal machine gun during a traffic stop in Gautier, Mississippi. During the traffic stop, law enforcement located a Glock pistol inside the vehicle, and a machine gun device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Gautier Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.
Biloxi Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Biloxi man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Bradlee James Harrison, 22, was found in possession of a firearm by the Biloxi Police Department during a Mardi Gras parade on February 13, 2024. Harrison had a previous felony conviction for Failure to Stop Motor Vehicle and was on bond at the time of his arrest.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Biloxi Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.
BOP Inmate Sentenced for Possession of ContrabandRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A United States Bureau of Prisons inmate housed at the Yazoo Federal Correctional Institute was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for possession of contraband within the prison facility.
According to court documents, Frederick Joshua Scott, 36, while an inmate in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons was found in possession of fifteen individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. Scott pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on November 8, 2024. In delivering the sentence, the Court ordered that the 16-month sentence for the instant offense run consecutive to the 180-month sentence Scott was already serving for his previous 2014 federal conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Prisons investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
Brandon Man Sentenced for Brandishing a Firearm During RobberiesRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Brandon man was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during two convenience store robberies.
According to court documents and admissions during public court proceedings, Tramaine Jadell Pettaway, 36, used a firearm to commit two convenience store robberies along with another individual in January and February of 2018. One store was in Clinton and the other was in Ridgeland. The Ridgeland Police Department was able to arrest both Pettaway and his co-defendant after a short chase following the Ridgeland convenience store robbery in February 2018. Pettaway and his co-defendant have been in custody since February 2018.
Pettaway pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1) which makes it illegal for anyone to use a firearm during a robbery.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Ridgeland Police Department, the Clinton Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Lynn Murray and Assistant United States Attorney Charles Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Brandon Man Sentenced for Brandishing a Firearm During RobberiesRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Brandon man was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during two convenience store robberies.
According to court documents and admissions during public court proceedings, Tramaine Jadell Pettaway, 36, used a firearm to commit two convenience store robberies along with another individual in January and February of 2018. One store was in Clinton and the other was in Ridgeland. The Ridgeland Police Department was able to arrest both Pettaway and his co-defendant after a short chase following the Ridgeland convenience store robbery in February 2018. Pettaway and his co-defendant have been in custody since February 2018.
Pettaway pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1) which makes it illegal for anyone to use a firearm during a robbery.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Ridgeland Police Department, the Clinton Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Lynn Murray and Assistant United States Attorney Charles Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
- Former Jackson Police Department Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Making a False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm
Meridian Man Sentenced to 220 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi, man was sentenced today to 220 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Jarvis Jermaine Hampton, 28, sold methamphetamine on two occasions in January and February of 2024. After those sales, a search warrant was executed at Hampton’s residence where agents discovered pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, a pill press, and a machinegun.
Hampton was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 10, 2024. He pled guilty on October 22, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case with assistance from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Jackson man was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Johnny Ragsdale, 21, was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle in Jackson. Ragsdale, the driver, failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.
Ragsdale was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024, for illegal possession of a machinegun. He pled guilty on October 24, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Capitol Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Florida Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Florida man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and commit wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for tax shelter clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes.
In reality, as Mellinger knew, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and other co-conspirators, who then sent the money — less a fee — right back to a different bank account that the client controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.
In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million.
Mellinger and a co-conspirator who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from promoting the scheme.
In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were being investigated and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and a relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million of funds from some of those clients, some of which he used to buy a home in Delray Beach.
Mellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and commit wire fraud, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague, and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are prosecuting the case.
Pascagoula Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distribution of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Tyrone Lewis, 20, had sexual contact with a 14-year-old in Jackson County, Mississippi, and recorded some of the sexual acts on a cell phone. Further investigation, including an analysis of the victim’s cell phone, revealed that Lewis sent the victim videos of himself and the victim engaging in sexual activity. The cell phone also contained a text message which confirmed Lewis knew the victim was a minor.
In July 2024, Lewis pled guilty to distribution of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation, Cyberstalking, and Sextortion OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man entered a guilty plea to federal charges relating to a “sextortion” scheme that targeted multiple victims, including minors, across several states.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Marquez Cameron Jones Weston, 22, operated a “sextortion” scheme in which he engaged in cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, attempted production of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography over the internet. As part of the scheme, Weston attempted to and did extort money and sexually explicit photographic images and videos from numerous female victims, some of whom were minors, over the internet.
Weston pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography over the internet, extortion, and cyberstalking. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2025 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Sam Houston State University Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly T. Purdie and Dave Fulcher are prosecuting the case.
The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.
If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additional resources can found at Sextortion and Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI. If you believe you are a victim in this particular case, please also contact the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Pelahatchie Man Sentenced to nearly Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pelahatchie man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Brad O’Neal Lee, 41, sold firearms to a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was alerted to the sale. Lee is a convicted felon, and therefore is prohibited by federal law from possessing any firearms or ammunition. Lee’s previous felony convictions on the date of the illegal possession were for residential burglary, false pretense, and uttering a forgery, for which he served several years in state prison.
Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 6, 2023. He pled guilty on October 3, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 51 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on August 28, 2023, Freddie Antwan McField, 44, was found in possession of a firearm by Hinds County Sheriff’s Deputies. McField has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, kidnapping, and motor vehicle theft.
McField was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 9, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on November 5, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Third Defendant Pleads Guilty in Car Dealership Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Louisiana man pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identities of others to purchase expensive vehicles in the Jackson, Mississippi metro area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2023, David L. Jones, Jr., of New Orleans, Louisiana, and his coconspirators obtained the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, created false identity documents in the names of those individuals, and then posed as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. Jones and his coconspirators submitted credit applications and purchased or attempted to purchase vehicles from dealerships in the Jackson metro area.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Two of Jones’s coconspirators, Paul Anthony Robinson and Sarah Elizabeth Calderon, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Jones’s remaining coconspirators, Joshanique Elouise Bailey and Anna Waldei, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their cases are still pending trial. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“When we established Mississippi’s Cyber Fraud Task Force four years ago, we knew that more and more criminal acts would have a cyber element and that our expertise and resources would be increasingly in demand,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “And we are pleased to see the results of our work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Secret Service in this case to put the brakes on this auto theft ring, put these criminals behind bars, and obtain justice for the people of Mississippi.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Former Hinds County Sheriff Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Soliciting Bribes and Providing Ammunition to a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Former Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for soliciting and accepting bribes and for knowingly providing ammunition to a convicted felon. Crisler was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.
Crisler, 55, was appointed as Sheriff of Hinds County in August 2021. The evidence at trial showed that shortly after becoming Sheriff, Crisler solicited and accepted $9,500 in cash bribes from a convicted felon over three months, from September through November of 2021. In exchange for that money, Crisler agreed to provide favors through his position as Hinds County Sheriff. These favors included sharing information concerning future criminal investigations involving the bribe payor, moving a jailed family member to a better place within the Hinds County Jail, and hiring the bribe payor to work at the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office. Crisler also gave ammunition to the bribe payor, knowing that the person was a convicted felon.
On November 8, 2024, a federal jury found Crisler guilty on all counts, following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes, and it is also against federal law for anyone to provide firearm ammunition to a known convicted felon.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Marquette Cornell McCroy, 43, was found in possession of a firearm in Vicksburg following a traffic stop. McCroy, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, had previously been convicted of a felony and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. McCroy threw the firearm on the ground as he attempted to flee the vehicle on foot.
McCroy was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on October 3, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.